Lockheed Martin has reached a strategic agreement with BAE Systems to equip F-35 Lightning II fighter jets with next-generation electronic warfare technology, the defense companies announced.
The Pentagon is accelerating the modernization of its aircraft fleet to maintain military air superiority against advancing global anti-aircraft defenses and long-range missile systems.
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth multirole combat aircraft developed by primary contractor Lockheed Martin, which is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. The fighter jet is considered the most advanced combat aircraft in the United States military arsenal and is operated across multiple military branches as well as allied armed forces worldwide.
At the center of the new modernization initiative is the AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare system, a sophisticated avionics and sensor suite. The equipment provides the aircraft with a complete 360-degree electromagnetic vision, establishing a digital shield that scans the surrounding environment without leaving blind spots.
By eliminating blind spots, the system gives the pilot an exact, real-time electronic picture of the battlefield during combat operations.
High-speed signal processing at Mach speeds
Engineers designing the system architecture built a specialized computing framework capable of processing electromagnetic signals at extreme operational speeds.
According to the defense technology publication Interesting Engineering, the AN/ASQ-239 system continuously collects and analyzes electromagnetic energy to pinpoint enemy installations. It can geolocate hostile radar sites and incoming swarms of autonomous drones while the aircraft is flying at speeds of up to 1,930 kilometers per hour.
Operating at speeds near 1,930 kilometers per hour requires instantaneous calculation power from the onboard computers to process sensor data immediately and guarantee pilot survival in hostile airspace.
Modern air combat is increasingly fought across the silent electromagnetic spectrum, where control of radio frequencies and radar signals determines tactical success. The new procurement agreement covers production lots 20 through 22 for the F-35 fighter, alongside modernization packages intended for older active-duty units currently in service.
Expanded manufacturing in New Hampshire and Texas
BAE Systems, an international defense and aerospace contractor, has already manufactured and delivered more than 1,500 AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare systems to military customers around the world.
To fulfill the requirements of the new contract, BAE Systems will increase its manufacturing output across its specialized defense technology facilities located in New Hampshire and Texas.
The AN/ASQ-239 system provides simultaneous offensive and defensive capabilities during high-risk missions. This tactical versatility allows the F-35 to penetrate heavily defended airspace protected by sophisticated enemy air defense networks.
When the system detects an imminent threat, it can deploy targeted radio frequency countermeasures to divert incoming attacks. Alternatively, it can initiate severe electronic jamming to blind enemy radar operators and missile guidance systems.
Rapid software updates and joint operations hub
A major challenge in modern military aviation is the rapid physical obsolescence of hardware components when facing evolving tactics from adversary powers.
To overcome hardware limitations, the AN/ASQ-239 system relies on a modular software architecture that can be quickly reprogrammed. Military operators can upload new algorithms into the aircraft systems in a matter of hours, allowing the fighter jet's defensive responses to adapt rapidly to newly deployed missile threats.
The integration of this advanced technology consolidates the F-35 as the central nerve center for joint air operations across land, sea, and air domains.
By detecting threat signals passively over long distances, the F-35 can collect intelligence without revealing its own position. The fighter then shares this critical target data in real time with allied land-based units and naval strike groups.
The Pentagon, based in Arlington County, Virginia, serves as the command headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. Defense planners emphasize that survival in future conflicts will depend on dominating the electromagnetic spectrum, a capability the US Air Force seeks to guarantee through this fleet-wide electronic warfare upgrade.
